When God Sleeps

Iranian musician Shahin Najafi is an outspoken critic of Islam and theocratic rule in his homeland. A fatwa has been declared on him and his life is in danger even in German exile.

Make sure nobody is following you. When you get into the car, check if everything is in place. These and other instructions provided by the German secret service are a feature of Shahin's everyday life in Cologne. Being the target of a fatwa means living under the constant threat of attack by religious zealots. And it's not just Shahin. His bandmates and fans are also in danger, as demonstrated by the attack on the Bataclan in Paris. This energetic portrait of a musician whose support is a forbidden long-distance relationship shows the struggle to remain true to oneself in the face of omnipresent fear.

Projection

Perhaps the greatest musical revolution today is taking place far away from the news cameras – on the African continent. The film is a wild ride through the hottest musical trends that are getting people moving from Dakar to Cape Town.

The Afghan film industry makes do without much fancy equipment – just the enthusiasm of a few people who would lay down their lives for the film. One such person is Salim Shaheen – director, producer and actor all in one.